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The reality of amnesty for laborers
Posted on 7/21/26 at 9:18 am
Posted on 7/21/26 at 9:18 am
I know a lot of you consider this a cut and dry issue, and I’m not unlike you in most cases. They need to come legally, but there is some nuance a lot of people might miss if they aren’t in any type of construction.
Here’s the reality: any Mexican (they’re not all from Mexico, but I can’t ever tell who’s who) crew for roofing, concrete work, or just about any hard labor job will outwork American crews 2/1. Not only that, they actually show up when they say they will and do a good job.
I can’t speak for factory or farm work, but construction work needs laborers, not just for cheap labor, but for guys that will actually get the work done on time and correctly.
Case in point: I had some flooring done recently. American guy said it was a 3-day job. We scheduled him, but then he flaked out, wouldn’t come out to the job for one reason and then another. Finally got fed up, contacted a Mexican guy Friday night, him and one other dude showed up the next Monday morning, they did the job in one day, and they did a great job. We paid them the same as the American dude was going to get.
Anyone making this about just “cheap labor” isn’t in the construction world - the American labor force is severely compromised. I’m not saying amnesty is necessarily the answer, but we cannot lose the guys that are actually doing the hardest work in America today.
Here’s the reality: any Mexican (they’re not all from Mexico, but I can’t ever tell who’s who) crew for roofing, concrete work, or just about any hard labor job will outwork American crews 2/1. Not only that, they actually show up when they say they will and do a good job.
I can’t speak for factory or farm work, but construction work needs laborers, not just for cheap labor, but for guys that will actually get the work done on time and correctly.
Case in point: I had some flooring done recently. American guy said it was a 3-day job. We scheduled him, but then he flaked out, wouldn’t come out to the job for one reason and then another. Finally got fed up, contacted a Mexican guy Friday night, him and one other dude showed up the next Monday morning, they did the job in one day, and they did a great job. We paid them the same as the American dude was going to get.
Anyone making this about just “cheap labor” isn’t in the construction world - the American labor force is severely compromised. I’m not saying amnesty is necessarily the answer, but we cannot lose the guys that are actually doing the hardest work in America today.
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Posted on 7/21/26 at 9:31 am to Goombaw
quote:
the American labor force is severely compromised. I’m not saying amnesty is necessarily the answer, but we cannot lose the guys that are actually doing the hardest work in America today.
Something people don't think about regarding Illegal Immigrants - they are massive consumers of goods and services of all kinds. They also don't pay income taxes. They are able to undercut just about anyone white, black, asian etc on labor costs alone when bidding for a job.
Deporting all the Illegal Immigrants would:
reduce the cost of just about everything in your daily life. Every 'shortage' would end almost immediately. Americans would fill the void very shortly. The idea of "who is going to pick your blueberries!!!!" when there wouldn't be a need for an many blueberries because we would have removed 30 to 40 million consumers who are living off the American taxpayer from the system. Same applies to chicken, beef, eggs, etc. We won't need as much which will drive down the price. It would fix healthcare costs, public schools and a host of other things as well. Car insurance would plummet with all the uninsured motorist being removed off the roads. Housing costs for rent and buying would plummet. The idea that nothing could or would get done without Illegal Immigrants is laughable and the demand wouldn't be there for goods and services which would help with the short term void in replacement.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 9:43 am to ronricks
quote:
The idea of "who is going to pick your blueberries!!!!" when there wouldn't be a need for an many blueberries because we would have removed 30 to 40 million consumers who are living off the American taxpayer from the system.
1. remove blueberry pickers paid at x
2. hire american blueberry pickers paid at x+5
3. reduced efficiency
4. blueberry prices go up because of labor cost increase and shorter supply
repeat for huge sectors of goods
quote:
reduce the cost of just about everything in your daily life
lol
Posted on 7/21/26 at 9:43 am to ronricks
I think it’s equally laughable to think prices for anything will go down.
Plus, you’re missing my main point: they aren’t just cheap labor. My experience in this industry over the last few years has been that Mexican crews (legal or illegal) are the best option, not because of cost, but for reliability and quality of work.
Plus, you’re missing my main point: they aren’t just cheap labor. My experience in this industry over the last few years has been that Mexican crews (legal or illegal) are the best option, not because of cost, but for reliability and quality of work.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 9:48 am to Goombaw
You make a good point about the labor market in the short and medium term. At the same time, we shouldn’t neglect long term development of home grown labor. Americans en masse need to rediscover work ethic, and that starts with making it a priority in all levels of government, education, and local communities.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 9:48 am to Goombaw
Importing foreign slave labor improves profits
More at 11
More at 11
Posted on 7/21/26 at 9:51 am to Goombaw
You’re right. Pretty wild to learn that they work hard. We’ve been told otherwise for so long.
But we just found out that the US govt believes immigrant farm workers work hard and are essential for production.
Same with construction workers?
Has this just been a political attempt at using fear and xenophobia to create a fervor?
But we just found out that the US govt believes immigrant farm workers work hard and are essential for production.
Same with construction workers?
Has this just been a political attempt at using fear and xenophobia to create a fervor?
Posted on 7/21/26 at 9:53 am to NineLineBind
I agree. The focus on everyone going to college to get a 4-year degree and neglecting the trades was a massive mistake for our country.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 9:57 am to atlgamecockman
quote:what percentage of the $2.99 you pay for a pint of blueberries at the local Wallmarks do you think is associated with labor cost?
1. remove blueberry pickers paid at x
2. hire american blueberry pickers paid at x+5
3. reduced efficiency
4. blueberry prices go up because of labor cost increase and shorter supply
consumer price = land & equipment cost + farmer profit + labor to plant & harvest + warehousing/transportation cost + retail distribution cost + stocking/display cost + advertising + retailer profit + taxes associated with all above expenses
if it takes roughly 60 seconds to pick a pint of blueberries, how much more would the consumer price go up if you doubled the picker’s hourly wage?
ETA - or look at it like this: how much cheaper would a pint of blueberries be if we legalized slavery again and the cost of labor was zero?
This post was edited on 7/21/26 at 10:08 am
Posted on 7/21/26 at 10:01 am to Goombaw
quote:
I think it’s equally laughable to think prices for anything will go down.
Removing 30 to 40 million consumers from the system who are living off the American taxpayer will absolutely will make costs go down. Think about all the stuff Illegal Immigrants are buying and using up essentially for free or subsidized.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 10:06 am to ronricks
quote:
Something people don't think about regarding Illegal Immigrants - they are massive consumers of goods and services of all kinds. They also don't pay income taxes. They are able to undercut just about anyone white, black, asian etc on labor costs alone when bidding for a job.
And yet any good faith attempt to deal with those issues by making them documented guest workers subject to all the taxes and whatnot gets shut down by things like referring to Reagan granting amnesty 40 years ago.
This isn’t just an issue of “cheap labor”. Where I live, that labor doesn’t even exist for all practical purposes. I have learned to do many things myself because contractor costs are stupidly high. One landscaper wanted $24k to put down 500 sq ft of turf in my back yard. I did it myself with $2,200 in materials. Simple additions can easily run $1,000 per square foot. People pay it because there are no better options. If they can get that from others, fine. I’m not paying it.
It’s a valid problem with a valid solution. As much as I hate agreeing with the left on anything, though, this is one issue where the absolutists on the right play to a simplistic mindset.
This post was edited on 7/21/26 at 10:16 am
Posted on 7/21/26 at 10:07 am to Goombaw
I agree with what the OP said. The problem we have is there are many illegals here that don’t work. The dems have given them Medicaid, Snap benefits, and allowed many to commit fraud within these programs. I have no problem with the illegals that come here, obey our laws, and actually work but we have to make these workers that are working here pay taxes.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 10:08 am to The Baker
Notice I didn’t say anything about profits. I’m talking about crews willing to show up and work.
Friend of mine builds barndos. He had a local concrete guy scheduled to pour a pad. The concrete truck driver called him because no one was at the job site when he got there. Had to eat some of the concrete because the guys literally just didn’t show up, and hadn’t even built the forms the day before like they said when he’d checked in. Similar situation to my flooring job, Mexican crew got the job done later that week on short notice.
Sadly, these aren’t isolated incidents, but increasingly industry norms.
Friend of mine builds barndos. He had a local concrete guy scheduled to pour a pad. The concrete truck driver called him because no one was at the job site when he got there. Had to eat some of the concrete because the guys literally just didn’t show up, and hadn’t even built the forms the day before like they said when he’d checked in. Similar situation to my flooring job, Mexican crew got the job done later that week on short notice.
Sadly, these aren’t isolated incidents, but increasingly industry norms.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 10:08 am to Goombaw
quote:
equally laughable to think prices for anything will go down
A billion dollars (in 11 months) of illegal health care services from hospitals that reported to the state of Texas wouldn't come out of the taxpayer's pocket. In addition, their anchor babies on Medicaid spend out of a different pot of money. Then there are the property taxes that go to fund the anchor baby's schooling for 13 years. We would need fewer ESL teachers, etc.
I don't give two shits that they can put up a roof with speed and efficiency.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 10:13 am to LemmyLives
Green cards exist for a reason. Deport every last one of them.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 10:18 am to Goombaw
The argument isn't that illegals should be deported ONLY because they are bad people or because they do bad work. The quality of work is not actually the issue at all.
The issue is about their legal status. If they are good workers, they should apply to come in legally and continue to be a benefit to our nation. I want our nation to benefit from people from other countries who want to move here to make their lives better but to also contribute to this nation. If someone is a great construction worker, I hope they come here legally and provide their gifts and talents in that industry.
I don't think it's wise to grant blanket amnesty because it sets or continues a precedent of granting amnesty to solve inconvenient immigration problems while providing an incentive for more illegal immigration. All one has to do is sneak in and wait until the government gives them amnesty, because they've done it before.
The issue is about their legal status. If they are good workers, they should apply to come in legally and continue to be a benefit to our nation. I want our nation to benefit from people from other countries who want to move here to make their lives better but to also contribute to this nation. If someone is a great construction worker, I hope they come here legally and provide their gifts and talents in that industry.
I don't think it's wise to grant blanket amnesty because it sets or continues a precedent of granting amnesty to solve inconvenient immigration problems while providing an incentive for more illegal immigration. All one has to do is sneak in and wait until the government gives them amnesty, because they've done it before.
This post was edited on 7/21/26 at 10:32 am
Posted on 7/21/26 at 10:22 am to Goombaw
I'll stop you there.
I've heard this before.
Sounds like Stephen Colbert to me
I've heard this before.
quote:
Who will do the work that americans dont want to do?
Sounds like Stephen Colbert to me
Posted on 7/21/26 at 10:23 am to FooManChoo
quote:
The issue is about their legal status. If they are good workers, they should apply to come in legally and continue to be a benefit to our nation.
Again, a simplistic answer.
People will point to H-2B visas and say these address shortages in construction workers. What they don’t say is that the visa is tied to the employer and the worker can’t work for any other company. So, the local contractor employer has to become an immigration expert to get one of these, and the worker can’t work for any other employer.
This industry has a highly fluid workforce, just like pipeline contractors or any other industry where labor is “per project”.
Why not just make these visas more mobile and flexible so the worker can attach to projects instead of employers?
Posted on 7/21/26 at 10:23 am to FooManChoo
quote:
The issue is about their legal status.
This. We're a nation of The Rule of Law. At least we should be.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 10:24 am to Goombaw
quote:
The reality of amnesty for laborers
Wasn't this a Gang of 8 idea back in the day?
Graham
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Rubio
only the best Republicans and not a Conservative amongst them
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